Elevator-signaling device



Se t 1, 1925. 1551,94!

H. J. FOSTER ET AL ELEVATOR smmium DEVICE Filed April 29, 1921 2 sheets-5146a 1 lbw bvlbn'pmihllw finder WWW v i I I H vweubow HJmwfi UAW "sept I. T925. 1,551,947

H. .LFOSTER ET AL ELEVATOR SIGNALING DEVICE Filed April 29, 1921 2 Sheets-Shoot 2 P9 4.9 I 4% 44 45 42 w Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J'. FOSTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ANI) JOHN M. HOWLEY, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY.

ELEVATOR-SIGNALING DEVICE.

Application filed April 29, 1921.

To all whom it may come m:

Be it known that we, HENRY J. Fosrnn and JOHN M. Hownnr, residing at New York and Bayonne, in the counties of Bronx and Hudson and States of New York and New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in Elevator-Signaling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved sig naling arrangement for elevators.

A former arrangement for signaling in elevator systems, which comprise a plurality of elevators, has been to provide each elevator with a separate signal. lVith such ar- 1angements,'when a passenger would press a button to signal an elevator to stop at a floor, the indication of which of the elevators to be the next to stop at that floor would be givenby an individual signal at each elevator door. This made it necessary for the passenger after pressing the signal button to watch all of the separate signals until one of them functioned. Such an operation would at times be difficult and cause much annoyance, particularly if the number of elevatorswas great or if the elevators were situated in a corner of the building. With the arrangements of this invention the individual signals may be eliminated and a central signaling panel is provided, whereby, when the button is pressed, an indication will be given of the next car to stop at that floor. lVith such an arrangement the passenger will only have to watch one place for the signal indication. Furthermore a considerable saving in equipment may be eifected and the wiring system may be greatly simplified. Other features and advantages'of the invention will appear more fully from the detailed description hereinafter given.

The invention may be more fully under stood from the following description together with the accompanying drawing, in the Figures 1, 2, and 3 of which, are illustrated the arrangements thereof. -Similar reference characters have been utilized to denote like the drawing.

In Fig. 2 is shown one of the former types of elevator signaling arrangements. There is illustrated the doors 11, 12, 13 and 14lof elevators which may be referred to as the #1, #2, #3, and 1 elevators re speotively. Between each of the elevators ger press one of buttons 19 to parts in all of the figures of the #2 car, and may Serial No. 465,382.

might be the signaling the cars. Above each elevator push buttons, such as 19, for

door might be an individual signal panel,

16, 17, and 18, until the flashing of the sig nal in one of these would indicate which of the four elevators was the next one to stop at that floor. As has been pointed out this might cause considerable difficulty and in convenience especially if there should be a great number of elevators or if the elevators should be arranged in angular fashion as in the corner of a building. V

In Fig. 3 is shown the improved signaling arrangement of this invention. Instead of the separate signal panels individual to each car there is provided, preferably at a centrally located position, a single signal panel 25 for all of the ears. Above each of the our doors there might be a stationary number, such as the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4, in the panels 21, 22, 23, and 21. In the signal panel 25 there is provided a down and an up sign and two sets of numbered signals to correspond to the numbers above the cars. Upon pressing one of the push buttons 19 to go down the passenger will immediately see the down sign flash on panel 25 and later one'of the numbered signals, such as 2, will flash to indicate that the #2 car is the next one to stop at the floor on the way down. Should the passengo up, the up sign will flash on panel 25 and later one of the numbered signals. such as 1, will flash to indicate that the #1 car is the next to stop at that floor 011 the way up. With this arrangement the prospective passenger will only have to watch one signal panel, such as panel 25, after signaling the car and upon its operation may move over toward the proper car with much less confusion and trouble than in previous arrangements.

In Fig. 1 is shown a circuit diagram of the arrangement of the invention. 32 represents an elevator car which may be termed be assumed to be making its downward trip. 31 is an elevator carwhich may be termed the #1 car which is making its upward trip. The push buttons 19 are shown for signaling a car. The signaling panel provided at each floor is shown s 25. The arrangements for controlling the signals might be placed at any suitable place in the building, such as on the top floor above the elevators. accordingly, they have been shown, as separated from the elevators and signaling panel by the dott d line XX. In this arrangement there would be provided for every floor at which the cars would stop, a set of tour relays such as relays 33, 3%, S5 and 36. These relays would be individual to each floor, but it uld be common to all of the cars. For each car would be provided a set of up segments and a set of down segments. The up segments for the car 82 are illustrated, while the down segments for car 31 are illus trated. The up segments for car are the segments 39, 40, 421, l2, 4L3, i l, 4:5, 47, l8 and 49, while the down seg .ients for car 31 are shown as 39 to L9 inclusive. The segments 4L0, l3 and at? a e for the floor at w iich the car is stepp in the diagram, while the segments 39, 4-2 and 46 are for the next floor, and segments 41, lr. and 48 would be for another floor. segments 39 to 49 are arranged in a simi lar manner. Cooperating with each set segments are the brushes 50 and 50. The brush 50 is caused to move across the s inents by the downwlrd movement i the car 32 by mean of any suitable arrangement, such as the cables and pulleys herein illustrated schematically by the dotted line 52 and the pulley 51.

not

till) The brush 50 will be caused to move across the segi'nents 35' to ll) by a suitable arrangement, such as the cables and pulleys, upon the upward morenient of the car 31. The cable is shown schematically by the dotted line 51; and the pulleys as 523, 55 and 56. To provide current "for operating the relays and si els, the generators 57 and 58 are provided.

The operation of signaling one of the cars going; down, such as the car 32, is as :tollows: The prospective passenger would press one ot the down buttons of the push buttons 19. This would close the 't'ollowingzg cir unit-from the down push button 19. conductors and 60, generator 58, conductor (31, winding of relay 35, conductors (S2 and 63, to the other terini a l of the down push button. This wi l operate the relay The relay will. attract its armature and thereby release the armature oi the relay 8%, which, due to its spring connection, will close its contact. This will close the 'lolrowing circuit: From the armature ct relay 3S, conductor G l, generator '7, conductor (35, through the down signal of panel 25, over conductor 66 and the contactof relay 353, to the armature thereof. This will caus the down signal in panel to flash, there by informing the prospective pas enger that his signal has operated. Upon the opera tion of relay the following circuit will also be closed: From the armature of relay 36, conductor "-il, generator 57, conductor (57, conductor (58, conductor 69, through the 32 lantern in panel 25, conductor 70, conductor 80, to segment lO. hen the -ar is approaching the floor so that brush 50 will rest upon the segment lO, the above traced circuit will be completed from segment through. the brush 50, segment conductor 81, contact and armature of relay 2-36. This will operate the #2 lantern in the panel 25 and inform the plOSPCCtlYG passenger that the #552 car will be the next one to stop at that floor on its downward trip. A circuit will also be completed for the lamp 37 in the car to signal the operator thereof to stop at the floor, as follows: From the armature of relay 36, conductor 6i, generator 57, conductor 67, conductor 68, through the filament o l lamp 237 in the car, conductor 82 to the segment 45. hen the brush 5O rests upon the segment l3, the above traced -ircuitwill be" completed as follows: From segment lt through the brush 50, segntient l3, conductor 81, contact and armature of relay After the car has stopped at the floor and continued on its down passage, the lights in the signaling; panel 25 will be put out andv the ap paratus restored to normal in the following; manner: lVhen the car leaves a floor the brush wil momentarily rest on the segment 4:7. This will close the following cireuit: From the segment 47 through the brush 50, segment ll), conductor 8?), conductor 8+1, generator 58, conductor (51, wiudof relay 36, conductor 85, conductor 86, to the segment 4?. The closing of this circuit will operate on relay 36, which will pull up its armature and open the previously traced operating circuits lior the signels at its contact point. The armature of." relay 38 will be held in its open position by the armature ot' the relay The operation for signaling one of the rip-coining: cars, such the car 81, would be as follows: The prospective passenger would press one of the up buttons ot the push buttons 19 and thereby close the followii circuit; from contact of button 19, *onduttor 59, conductor 60,- generator 58; conductor (51, winding; of relay 33, conductor 90, conductor 9i, to the other contact of the up push button. This will operate the relay 3-3 3, which will attractits armature and release the armatru-e ol relay 3 said armature to close the follow ing' circuit: From the armature ol. relay 34., conductor 642, generator 57, cont ctor 65. through the signal in panel I conductor 93, contact and arnu.

y This will cause the up 1 nal in panel 25 to flash and inform the pro spective passenger that the car will be signaled. The operation of relay 33 will also close the following circuit: From the armature of relay 34, conductor 64, generator 57, conductors 94, 95 and 96, through the #1 up signal of panel 25, conductor 97, conductor 98 to the segment When the car approaches a floor, the brush 50 will be caused to move into contact with the segment 40. The above traced circuit will then be completed as follows: From segment 40, brush 50, segment 43, conductor 99, conductor 93, contact and armature of relay 34. This will cause to flash the #1 up signal in panel 25 and thereby inform the prospective passenger that the ,41 car will be the next car to stop at that floor.

A signaling circuit for the light in the car will be completed as follows: From the armature of relay 34, conductor 64, generator 57, conductors 94 and 95, filament of lamp 38, conductor 100 to the segment 45. \Vhen the brush is moved into contact with the segment 43', this circuit will be completed: From segment 45', brush 50, segment 43, conductor 99, conductor 93, Contact and armature of relay 34. After the car has stopped at the floor for the passenger and moves on to the next floor, the brush 50 will move into contact with the setback segment 47' This will close the following circuit: From the setback segment 47, conductor 101, winding of relay 34, conductor 61, generator 58, conductor 60, conductor 102, conductor 103 to the segment 49, and from the segment 49 through the brush 50 to the segment 47 This will operate the relay 34 which will pull up its armature and open the previously traced signaling and relay circuits. Relay, 33 will thus be tie-energized, and by releasing its armature will cause the armature of relay to be held in its open position.

While the wire connect-ions to the segments have only been shown for one floor, it is pointed out that the other segments would be wired in a similar manner to other relay arrangements and to signaling arrangements at other floors. For example, segments 39, 42 and 46 would be wired to the signaling arrangements for the ioorbelow those illustrated, while segments 41, 44 and 48 would be provided for the signaling arrangements for the floor above.

A lead is shown from the #2 up light, which would lead to the other lantern segments of the #2 car going up. A lead is shown from the #1 down signal, which would lead to the other lantern segments of the #1 car going down. The lantern segments would be the segments such as 39, 40, and 41, and 39,'40 and 41. A lead is shown from conductor 85, which would lead to setback segments corresponding to 47 of all. the other carsgoing down. A lead is shown from conductor 101, which would lead to setback segments corresponding to 47' of other cars going up. The conductors 90 and 105 would also be connected to other up pusn buttons and to other down push buttons respectively, while the conductor would lead to the other push button connections. The conductor 94, in turn, would be connected to lamps of other cars. As the description of the operation of the arrangements for other cars would be substantially the same as that already described, no further description thereof will be given.

While the arrangements have been disclosed in certain specific arrangements which are deemed desirable, it is understood that they are capable of embodiment in many and widely varied forms without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

i Vhat is claimed is:

1. In an elevator signal system includin a plurality of numbered elevators, a visual signal panel for each floor, said panel being common to all of said cars and having sig nals individual to each car and other signals indicating the direction in which the passenger desires to go, an up push button and a down push button at each floor,

means responding to the operation of one of said push buttons to prepare a circuit for each of the car signals of the panel at said floor and to simultaneously close an operating circuit for the direction signal of said panel corresponding to the push button operated, thereby indicating that the signal system is working and that the car signal circuits are prepared, and means operated by an individual car moving in the direction indicated by the panel as it approaches the floor to complete the circuit of the corresponding car signal of the panel at that floor.

2. In an elevator signal system including a plurality of numbered elevator cars, a visual signal panel at each landing, said panel including an up signal and a down signal common to the cars and an individual signal for each car for each direction, up and down push buttons at each landing common to all of the cars, means controlled by a push button at the landing whereby the corresponding direction signal for that landing is operated immediately, and means jointly controlled by said last mentioned means and a car whereby a signal individual to said car is operated when the car approaches the landing.

3. In an elevator signal system including a plurality of elevators, a signal panel locat ed at a landing, said signal panel including a direction signal and a set of individual signals corresponding to said elevators, a set of push buttons, means controlled solely by i i a said ears When said cars arrive at aeertain d aiice from said landing.

n testin'iony whereof, we have signed our es to this specification this 25th day of April, 1911.

HENRY J. FOSTER. JOHN M. l-IOVv'l 1 Id i. 

